lady baltimore-第31部分

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gagement；　and　had　rung　Mrs。　Cornerly's　bell　at　this　early　hour　with　the　purpose　of　informing　his　lady…love　that　all　was　over　between　them。　Jealousy　would　not　be　likely　to　produce　this　set　of　manifestations　in　young；　foolish　John；　and　I　may　say　here　at　once；　what　I　somewhat　later　learned；　that　the　boy　had　come　with　precisely　the　opposite　purpose；　namely；　to　repeat　and　reenforce　his　steadfast　constancy；　and　that　it　was　something　far　removed　from　jealousy　which　had　spurred　him　to　this。

I　found　the　girl　behind　the　counter　at　her　post；　grateful　to　me　for　coming　to　ask　how　she　was　after　the　shock　of　yesterday；　but　unwilling　to　speak　of　it　at　all；　all　which　she　expressed　by　her　charming　manner；　and　by　the　other　subjects　she　chose　for　conversation；　and　especially　by　the　way　in　which　she　held　out　her　hand　when　I　took　my　leave。

Near　the　post…office　I　was　hailed　by　Beverly　Rodgers；　who　proclaimed　to　me　at　once　a　comic　but　genuine　distress。　He　had　already　walked；　he　said　（and　it　was　but　half…past　nine　o'clock；　as　he　bitterly　bade　me　observe　on　the　church　dial）；　more　miles　in　search　of　a　drink　than　his　unarithmetical　brain　had　the　skill　to　compute。　And　he　confounded　such　a　town　heartily；　he　should　return　as　soon　as　possible　to　Charley's　yacht；　where　there　was　civilization；　and　where　he　had　spent　the　night。　During　his　search　he　had　at　length　come　to　a　door　of　promising　appearance；　and　gone　in　there；　and　they　had　explained　to　him　that　it　was　a　dispensary。　A　beastly　arrangement。　What　was　the　name　of　the　razor…back　hog　they　said　had　invented　it？　And　what　did　you　do　for　a　drink　in　this　confounded　water…hole？

He　would　find　it　no　water…hole；　I　told　him；　but　there　were　methods　which　a　stranger　upon　his　first　morning　could　scarce　be　expected　to　grasp。　〃I　could　direct　you　to　a　Dutchman；〃　I　said；　〃but　you're　too　well　dressed　to　win　his　confidence　at　once。〃

〃Well；　old　man；〃　began　Beverly；　〃I　don't　speak　Dutch；　but　give　me　a　crack　at　the　confidence。〃

However；　he　renounced　the　project　upon　learning　what　a　Dutchman　was。　Since　my　hours　were　no　longer　dedicated　to　establishing　the　presence　of　royal　blood　in　my　veins　I　had　spent　them　upon　various　local　investigations　of　a　character　far　more　entertaining　and　akin　to　my　taste。　It　was　in　truth　quite　likely　that　Beverly　could　in　a　very　few　moments；　with　his　smile　and　his　manner；　find　his　way　to　any　Dutchman's　heart；　he　had　that　divine　gift　of　winning　over　to　him　quickly　all　sorts　and　conditions　of　men；　and　my　account　of　the　ingenious　and　law…baffling　contrivances；　which　you　found　at　these　little　grocery　shops；　at　once　roused　his　curiosity　to　make　a　trial；　but　he　decided　that　the　club　was　better；　if　less　picturesque。　And　he　told　me　that　all　the　men　of　the　automobile　party　had　received　from　John　Mayrant　cards　of　invitation　to　the　club。

〃Your　fire…eater　is　a　civil　chap；〃　said　Beverly。　〃And　by　the　way；　do　you　happen　to　know；〃　here　he　pulled　from　his　pocket　a　letter　and　consulted　its　address；　〃Mrs。　Weguelin　St。　Michael？〃

I　was　delighted　that　he　brought　an　introduction　to　this　lady；　Hortense　Rieppe　could　not　open　for　him　any　of　those　haughty　doors；　and　I　wished　not　only　that　Beverly　（since　he　was　just　the　man　to　appreciate　it　and　understand　it）　should　see　the　fine　flower　of　Kings　Port；　but　also　that　the　fine　flower　of　Kings　Port　should　see　him；　the　best　blood　of　the　South　could　not　possibly　turn　out　anything　better　than　Beverly　Rodgers；　and　it　was　horrible　and　humiliating　to　think　of　the　other　Northern　specimens　of　men　whom　Hortense　had　imported　with　her。　I　was　here　suddenly　reminded　that　the　young　woman　was　a　guest　of　the　Cornerlys；　the　people　who　swept　their　garden；　the　people　whom　Eliza　La　Heu　at　the　Exchange　did　not　〃know〃；　and　at　this　the　remark　of　Mrs。　Gregory　St。　Michael；　when　I　had　walked　with　her　and　Mrs。　Weguelin；　took　on　an　added　lustre　of　significance：

〃We　shall　have　to　call。〃

Call　on　the　Cornerlys！　Would　they　do　that？　Were　they　ready　to　stand　by　their　John　to　that　tune？　A　hotel　would　be　nothing；　you　could　call　on　anybody　at　a　hotel；　if　you　had　to；　but　here　would　be　a　demarche　indeed！　Yet；　nevertheless；　I　felt　quite　certain　that；　if　Hortense；　though　the　Cornerlys'　guest；　was　also　the　guaranteed　fiancee　of　John　Mayrant；　the　old　ladies　would　come　up　to　the　scratch；　hate　and　loathe　it　as　they　might；　and　undoubtedly　would：　they　could　be　trusted　to　do　the　right　thing。

I　told　Beverly　how　glad　I　was　that　he　would　meet　Mrs。　Weguelin　St。　Michael。　〃The　rest　of　your　party；　my　friend；〃　I　said；　〃are　not　very　likely　to。〃　And　I　generalized　to　him　briefly　upon　the　town　of　Kings　Port。　〃Supposing　I　take　you　to　call　upon　Mrs。　St。　Michael　when　I　come　back　this　afternoon？〃　I　suggested。

Beverly　thought　it　over；　and　then　shook　his　head。　〃Wouldn't　do；　old　man。　If　these　people　are　particular　and　know；　as　you　say　they　do；　hadn't　I　better　leave　the　letter　with　my　card；　and　then　wait　till　she　sends　some　word？〃

He　was　right；　as　he　always　was；　unerringly。　Consorting　with　all　the　Charleys；　and　the　Bohms；　and　the　Cohns；　and　the　Kitties　hadn't　taken　the　fine　edge　from　Beverly's　good　inheritance　and　good　bringing　up；　his　instinct　had　survived　his　scruples；　making　of　him　an　agile　and　charming　cynic；　whom　you　could　trust　to　see　the　right　thing　always；　and　never　do　it　unless　it　was　absolutely　necessary；　he　would　marry　any　amount　of　Kitties　for　their　money；　and　always　know　that　beside　his　mother　and　sisters　they　were　as　dirt；　and　he　would　see　to　it　that　his　children　took　after　their　father；　went　to　school　in　England　for　a　good　accent　and　enunciation；　as　he　had　done；　went　to　college　in　America　for　the　sake　of　belonging　in　their　own　country；　as　he　had　done；　and　married　as　many　fortunes；　and　had　as　few　divorces；　as　possible。

〃Who　was　that　girl　on　the　bridge？〃　he　now　inquired　as　we　reached　the　steps　of　the　post…office；　and　when　I　had　told　him　again；　because　he　had　asked　me　about　Eliza　La　Heu　at　the　time；　〃She's　the　real　thing；〃　he　commented。　〃Quite　extraordinary；　you　know；　her　dignity；　when　poor　old　awful　Charley　was　messing　everythinghe's　so　used　to　mere　money；　you　know；　that　half　the　time　he　forgets　people　are　not　dollars；　and　you　have　to　kick　him　to　remind　himyes；　quite　perfect　dignity。　Gad；　it　took　a　lady　to　climb　up　and　sit　by　that　ragged　old　darky　and　take　her　dead　dog　away　in　the　cart！　The　cart　and　the　darky　only　made　her　look　what　she　was　all　the　more。　Poor　Kitty　couldn't　do　thatshe'd　look　like　a　chambermaid！　Well；　old　man；　see　you　again。〃

I　stood　on　the　post…office　steps　looking　after　Beverly　Rodgers　as　he　crossed　Court　Street。　His　admirably　good　clothes；　the　easy　finish　of　his　whole　appearance；　even　his　walk；　and　his　back；　and　the　slope　of　his　shoulders；　were　unmistakable。　The　Southern　men；　going　to　their　business　in　Court　Street；　looked　at　him。　Alas；　in　his　outward　man　he　was　as　a　rose　among　weeds！　And　certainly；　no　well…born　American　could　unite　with　an　art　more　hedonistic　than　Beverly's　the　old　school　and　the　nouveau　jeu！

Over　at　the　other　corner　he　turned　and　stood　admiring　the　church　and　gazing　at　the　other　buildings；　and　so　perceived　me　still　on　the　steps。　With　a　gesture　of　remembering　something　he　crossed　back　again。

〃You've　not　seen　Miss　Rieppe？〃

〃Why；　of　course　I　haven't！〃　I　exclaimed。　Was　everybody　going　to　ask　me　that？

〃Well；　something's　up；　old　boy。　Charley　has　got　the　launch　away　with　himand　I'll　bet　he's　got　her　away　with　him；　too。　Charley　lied　this　morning。〃

〃Is　lying；　then；　so　rare　with　him？〃

〃Why；　it　rather　is；　you　know。　But　I've　come　to　be　able　to　spot　him　when　he　does　it。　Those　little　bulgy　eyes　of　his　look　at　you　particularly　straight　and　childlike。　He　said　he　had　to　hunt　up　a　man　on　businessV…C　Chemical　Company；　he　called　it〃

〃There　is　such　a　thing　here；〃　I　said。

〃Oh；　Charley'd　never　make　up　a　thing；　and　get　found　out　in　that　way！　But　he　was　lying　all　the　same；　old　man。〃

〃Do　you　mean　they've　run　off　and　got　married？〃

〃What　do　you　take　them　for？　Much　more　like　them　to　run　off　and　not　get　married。　But　they　haven't　done　that　either。　And；　speaking　of　that；　I　believe　I've　gone　a　bit　adrift。　Your　fire…eater；　you　knowshe　is　an　extraordinary　woman！〃　And　Beverly　gave　his　mellow；　little　humorous　chuckle。　〃Hanged　if　I　don't　begin　to　think　she　does　fancy　him。〃

〃Well！〃　I　cried；　〃that　would　explainno；　it　wouldn't。　Whence　comes　your　theory？〃

〃Saw　her　look　at　him　at　dinner　once　last　night。　We　dined　with　some　peopleCornerly。　She　looked　at　him　just　once。　Well；　if　she　intendsby　gad；　it　upsets　one's　whole　notion　of　her！〃

〃Isn't　just　one　look　rather　slight　basis　for〃

〃Now；　old　man；　you　know　better　than　that！〃　Beverly　paused　to　chuckle。　〃My　grandmother　Livingston；〃　he　resumed；　〃knew　Aaron　Burr；　and　she　used　to　say　that　he　had　an　eye　which　no　honest　woman　could　meet　without　a　blush。　I　don't　know　whether　your　fire…eater　is　a　Launcelot；　or　a　Galahad；　but　that　girl's　eye　at　dinner〃

〃Did　he　blush？〃　I　laughed。

〃Not　that　I　saw。　But　really；　old　man；　confound　it；　you　know！　He's　no　sort　of　husband　for　her。　How　can　he　make　her　happy　and　how　can　she　make　him　happy；　and　how　can　either　of　them　hit　it　off　with　the　other　the　least　little　bit？　She's　expensive；　he's　not；　she's　up…to…date；　he's　not；　she's　of　the　great　world；　he's　provincial。　She's　all　derision；　he's　all　faith。　Why；　hang　it；　old　boy；　what　does　she　want　him　for？〃

Beverly's　handsome　brow　was　actually　furrowed　with　his　problem；　and；　as　I　certainly　could　furnish　him　no　solution　for　it；　we　stood　in　silence　on　the　post…office　steps。　〃What　can　she　want　him　for？〃　he　repeated。　Then　he　threw　it　off　lightly　with　one　of　his　chuckles。　〃So　glad　I've　no　daughters　to　marry！　WellI　must　go　draw　some　money。〃

He　took　himself　off　with　a　certain　alacrity；　giving　an　impatient　cut　with　his　stick　at　a　sparrow　in　the　middle　of　Worship　Street；　nor　did　I　see　him　again　this　day；　although；　after　hurriedly　getting　my　letters　（for　the　starting　hour　of　the　boat　had　now　drawn　near）；　I　followed　where　he　had　gone　down　Court　Street；　and　his　cosmopolitan　figure　would　have　been　easy　to　descry　at　any　distance　along　that　scantily　peopled　pavement。　He　had　evidently　found　the　bank　and　was　getting　his　money。

David　of　the　yellow　heir　and　his　limpid…looking　bride　were　on　the　horrible　little　excursion　boat；　watching　for　me　and　keeping　with　some　difficulty